At the beginning of the summer one my diabuddies asked me if I ever wear my infusion set on my buttocks in the summer. She was sick of getting the little circle tan lines on her belly from the infusion set. I told her that I actually ONLY where my infusion set on my ‘buttocks’.. on the top of my ass cheeks really…lots of “surface area” for prime infusion set wear..LOL. It also stays hidden and protected, minimizing the chances of accidently ripping it off.
Hidden Agenda
When I was younger I wasn’t using the additional CGM sensor (on my arm). So even in a bathing suit, the placement of the infusion set on my backside could allow me to conceal “the site”/infusion set (the circle connected to my skin in the photo).
At the beach I used to take my pump off at an hour at a time and stow it safely in my beach bag away from the sand, sun, and salt water. I would put it back on to give myself a little insulin (to make up for the basal I wasn’t getting) and take it back off again. This wasn’t the best method because I would leave the beach feeling like crap, hot, sweaty, dehydrated, with blood sugars in upwards of the 300s 😩 🤢 yuck.
Mastering Diabetes Tech at the Beach
I’ve learned how to master diabetes tech at the beach (also applies to the pool or boat). If I’m sitting in a beach chair I can keep it clipped to my bathing suit, preferably on the side/back by my hips, or placed next to my side in the shade of the towel, or placed in my beach bag next to my chair (Yes, tubing out, connecting me to the beach bag lol) – I’ve hopped up and dragged my poor pump from the bag a few times, yes. That options good when it’s really hot out and you can keep the pump cooler in the bag.
Preferably I like wearing a bathing suit that has something to clip to in the back. If I want to go down by the water I can clip it to the front of my bathing suit on the chest part of the suit, it’s waterproof but I would prefer not to get it wet, especially with salt water. If I’m going full mermaid submerge, I then disconnect completely but put it back on immediately after getting out of the water. As far as my sensor goes, it stays protected under my favorite adhesive patch, Simpatch (on amazon)!
For my other supplies, I keep my diabetes bag in the car (containing infusion set change supplies, and needles for an emergency) and in my beach bag I pack a small lunch bag to keep my emergency insulin vial, blood machine, frosting, juice, etc, nice and cool, I mean I also throw my lunch and water in there too, it’s not all diabetic. Blood machines don’t do well in the heat at the beach, and insulin definitely doesn’t do well in heat..it will go bad, and we have to treat insulin as liquid gold (according to our insurance companies..).
Now as far as concealing my diabetes tech/gear… you know your girl’s loud and proud. With the sensor it’s definitely hard to hide especially in a bathing suit when you’re not leaving much to the imagination lol.. I do clip my pump to my suit and my sensor is covered with my patch on my arm. If you wanted to conceal all your gadgets and gizmos then I would suggest putting your sensor in a spot that would be covered by your clothing. The pump can be tucked away in your bathing suit top (one of my go-to pump spots for when I wear a dress). You can also tuck the pump in your bathing suit maybe in the back, it helps that bathing suits are tight, so it will help keep the pump in place. Even clipping the pump backwards, so your pump inside the bathing suit with the clip showing on the outside so it’s really not going to go anywhere.
Don’t Stress!
I understand the struggle to keep everything in place, hidden, and protected while also trying to relax and enjoy your time in the sun and sea. Do what’s most comfortable for you, even if its clipping the pump the middle of your chest and tucking the tubing in where you can. Yes, it’s not hidden, but you are free to move, splash, and enjoy. No one’s going to be looking at your pump and gadgets when you’re laughing and chilling and having your own hot girl summer (or hot guy summer). Enjoy + be safe out there!
